Analog photography allows you full control over every aspect of picture creating. From the choice of film to how you decide to print the final image. Unlike digital, film photography leaves you with a physical imprint of your chosen scene.
If you’re interested in capturing on film, our list below gives a quick idea of handy items of what you might need. You could get by without them, but would you want to?
5. 35 mm Bulk Film Loader
If analog photography isn’t one of the most expensive hobbies, pastimes or jobs then I’m not sure what is. Not only is photographic film costly, it’s becoming more so due to the current climate. And that’s if you can find the film in the first place. Manufacturers are dropping film due to high costs.
To cut down on the cost of black and white 35 mm film, you can actually buy it in bulk. This was a tip from my father and allowed me to save a few coins. A 30.5 meter long spool of film costs around $110, retrieving around 29 films of 24 exposures (1 meter + extra for leaders, etc). A roll of the same film costs around $5.60, saving you about $50. You will need to invest in a bulk film loader and some canisters, but these are one-off purchases.
4. A (good) Scanner
Unless you are a die-hard analog user who can’t stand websites, social media or a digital version of your work, you will need a scanner of some sort. These allow you to create a digital replica of your negative, slide or glass. Why would you want that? Well, it not only creates a backup of your image, but allows you to share it across the World Wide Web.
There are different scanners for different purposes. Drum scanners for example provide the best quality, yet come with the biggest price tag. Negative scanners focus on small or medium formats yet can’t scan anything else. If you’re getting into scanning, go for a flatbed with negative slots – they are strong at capturing detail without breaking the bank. They are multipurpose, holding small, medium and large format negatives, positives (prints) and text too.
3. Archival System
As your negatives grow, the need to organize your work grows with it. Having an archival system means you protect your negatives and keep them in one place for when you need them – handy.
I recommend specific folders with inserts and negative pockets. Get them from a reputable source to ensure everything fits together nicely. That way you only need to look after the folder, and the folder will look after your work.
2. Light Meter
As an analog photographer, you’ll need some help in working out how much light there is in a scene. Digital cameras do this automatically, and analog 35mm film cameras, such as the Canon AE-1 have them built-in. You could use an app on your phone, or better yet, a digital camera can give you a closer reading (and a back-up image).
Nothing will help capture your scene better than a dedicated light meter. A professional gadget that means you don’t need to guess the settings for a perfect exposure.
1. Loupe
A loupe is a magnifying glass for one eye – the things Bond villains use when looking at a gem for its details. These are very handy for analog photography. They allow you to get a closer, detailed look at your contact sheets and negatives for faults and imperfections. A similar thing is used for enlarging prints in a darkroom. Without one, you could miss vital tidbits of info and helping you choose which negatives to follow-up on.
If you are planning on joining the large format photography community, you will need a loupe to check tight focuses via the viewfinder plate.